V2Catholic.com A voice for the
poor Edited
by HK prison chaplain
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I . 胡頌恆神父
jdwomi@gmail.com
Links, Search
& Archives Imitating
Pope
Francis
This
website's anti-drug campaign saves people from going to prison in HK
See & share inmates'
letters!
HK
Indon
Kenya
Nigeria
Phil
S.A.
S.Amer
Thail
Tanz
Ug
EU
How
campaign began
HK:how
long prison for trafficking?
www.AsylumSeekerHK.com
Tues March 14
Today at the High Court I'm due to support a woman from South Africa being
sentenced for drug trafficking. I'm hoping she will receive a reduced sentenced
since she and her family took decisive action against the Drug Lady who sent her
to HK. Details of the case are in the final section of this
29 min. Special Assignment program (South Africa's "60
Minutes") which features my recent visit to South Africa.
Letter from an Indonesian woman in prison in
HK for drug trafficking - how she was recruited and tricked by an African man to
take drugs from Abuja (Nigeria) to HK - Here
To encourage more use of the Bible readings and the Pope's writings, below, I've
set up a WhatsApp Group .... asking for
readers to publish short comments/reflections/prayers on the readings/writings,
to promote access of this goldmine of good ideas for trying to live a life of
goodness. If you have WhatsApp, please let me know your phone number, and I'll
add you to the group: jdwomi@gmail.com
.... and I will say a special little prayer each day for the group. No need
to use your real name ... ok to use another name
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Numbers
19: God's words to Moses:
"Burn a red heifer and mix its ashes with water
to make holy water
for special blessings in cases of uncleanness."
Dear God, thank you for
holy water. May it protect and cleanse us
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
79-80: O God, the nations have invaded your sacred
land,
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. We have become the taunt of our neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us. How long, O Lord, will all this last?
How long will this sorrow keep going? Do not hold the guilt of our ancestors against
us.
If their guilt is somehow influencing our situation now
please give peace and healing to everyone and everything
in our history. Let the groans of the prisoners come before
you.
Let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die. O Lord, our God, help us and save us.
Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Lord, please heal any problems
in my family tree
Recording
Romans
8.9-13:
You are on God's team. God the Father is the
manager.
Jesus is the captain. The Holy Spirit is the coach, a coach
living in your heart. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the
dead, is living in you,
then he who raised Jesus from the dead will help
you live a risen life. By the grace of the Holy Spirit you can stop
doing bad things.
Holy Spirit of Jesus, Holy Spirit of the
Father, fall afresh on me!
Recording
Luke
13.10-17:
One Sabbath day Jesus was teaching in a prayer hall. There
was a woman there who for 18 years had been possessed by a spirit
which left her bent over and unable to stand up straight.
When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said "Woman, you are rid of
your infirmity" and he laid his hands on her. At once she was healed
and could stand up straight, and she glorified God.
Jesus, please heal the people I know who are bent over and can't stand
up straight
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Here is an excellent
video (with English script on screen) about the Holy
Spirit:
Who
is the Holy Spirit?
--------------------------------------------------------
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: Woo Kwok Hing - a Jordan baby!. It is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Free access to article with recording today from about noon to 8pm HK time. Text without recording
-------------------------------
I
have signed this petition (sent by a reader in Australia):
Boycott
Disney's Pro-Homosexual remake of Beauty and the Beast
-------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
012: Recording
In
speaking of marriage, Jesus refers us to yet another page of Genesis,
which, in its second chapter, paints a splendid and detailed portrait of the
couple.
First, we see the man, who anxiously seeks "a helper fit for him" (vv. 18, 20), capable of alleviating the solitude which he feels amid the animals and the world around him.
The original Hebrew suggests a direct encounter, face to face, eye to eye, in a kind of silent dialogue, for where love is concerned, silence is always more eloquent than words.
It is an encounter with a face, a "thou", who reflects God's own love and is man's "best possession, a helper fit for him and a pillar of support", in the words of the biblical sage (Sir 36:24).
Or again, as the woman of the Song of Solomon will sing in a magnificent profession of love and mutual self-bestowal: "My beloved is mine and I am his ... I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" (2:16; 6:3).
---------------------------------------------
Filipino jailed 25 years ago seeks sentence review
------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text
Full Chinese text
030:
Recording Even
as the quality of available water is constantly
diminishing, in some places, there is a growing tendency, despite its scarcity,
to privatize this resource, turning it into a commodity subject to the laws of
the market.
Yet access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right,
since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the
exercise of other human rights.
Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking
water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their
inalienable dignity. This debt can be paid partly by an increase in funding
to provide clean water and sanitary services among the poor.
But water continues to be wasted, not only in the developed world, but also in
developing countries which possess it in abundance. This shows that the problem
of water is partly an educational and cultural issue, since there is little
awareness of the seriousness of such behaviour within a context of great
inequality.
------------------------------------
Daniel
Daring: Year with Matthew - 11: Glorifying
Our Heavenly Father
Salt
prevents the world from decaying, light shows the world the way
----------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
006: Recording
There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without
Easter.
I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty.
I understand the grief of people who have to endure great suffering, yet slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress:
"My soul is bereft of
peace; I have forgotten what happiness is ... But this I call to mind, and
therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies
never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness ...
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord" (Lam
3:17, 21-23, 26).
-------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe
& Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia &
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Central &
North America
Jesus,
today, Tuesday,
please bless the people of
South
Asia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 14th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jilin
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 14th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Ethiopia
And
praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday March 13
The Philippines is not a Catholic
country. It's a sick country:
The
story of 6 year old girl in prison
On May 28, 2009, the very
first Sunday night special guests - 3 of them - had a meal at my home in
Jordan. Photo here.
In 2010 we started having Pizza each Sunday night - as in this
photo. As the
numbers increased, we moved to a local canteen .... then to the Caritas Centre
in Yau Ma Tei .... then to the present location of St Paul's in YMT .... where
last night some 300
guests attended the weekly "Pizza Party" gathering. Thank you Jesus
.... please bless the many groups with many dozens of volunteers who keep this
amazing "joint venture" going each week.
/2010-11-14sun01.jpg){kind=link}
Pope Francis was elected four years ago
today ... an easy date to remember ... 3 "3"s - on the 13th of the 3rd
2013. May the Good Lord give him many more years. Another "3" - his 3
readings, below - show his great love for God and his concern for the human
family. His writings are a great source of wisdom and encouragement for our
lives. Let's try to check the 3 readings each day!
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Numbers
18: God's words to Aaron:
"You and your sons will be priests.
You will lead the liturgy and carry out the duties of your priesthood.
You will have no portion of the land as your own.
I myself will be your portion.
When your sons receive the people's tithes,
they must give you for a special offering
a tithe of the tithes."
Dear
God, please help priests to be good and not greedy
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
78b: May future generations not be like our
ancestors
who so often were unfaithful to God. Even though our ancestors had seen God part
the sea,
even though they had seen him provide food and water for them
in the desert, still they went on sinning. Yet he who is full of compassion forgave and
spared them.
He remembered they were only weak humans. Eventually he brought them to the promised
land
and gave a home to each of Israel's tribes. But still they sinned by building mountain
shrines
and serving idols. Then God raised up David to be their
leader. God called him from looking after sheep
to be the shepherd of his people.
Lord, help us not to forget all
you have done for us
Recording
Romans
7.14-25: Even though I'm on God's team, I don't always
play as well as I should.
At times I cannot understand my behavior. I
fail to do good things, and I find myself doing bad things. It's as if there is a battle going on inside
me. In my heart I dearly love God,
but my will is weak, and I
do things that I know are wrong. Who can help me keep going? Who can fix up
things in my life? Jesus can. He is the one who sorts out things
in my life,
and changes chaos into order, by the working of the Holy
Spirit.
Jesus, my life is in your hands. Please
arrange my life the way you want to
Recording
Luke
12.35-38: Jesus said to his disciples "Be like people waiting for their master
to return, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Be
ready, for I will come at an hour you do not expect. "When someone is given a great deal, of that person more will
be expected".
Jesus, you have given me so much. Please help
me use my gifts and my situation
to do more to help other people
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
When God created us, he gave us a free will ....a weak free will! (Romans,
above)
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
008: Recording The
Bible is full of families, births, love stories and family crises.
This is true from its very first page, with the appearance of Adam and Eve's family with all its burden of violence but also its enduring strength (cf. Gen 4) to its very last page, where we behold the wedding feast of the Bride and the Lamb (Rev 21:2, 9).
Jesus' description of the two houses, one built on rock and the other on sand (cf. Mt 7:24-27), symbolizes any number of family situations shaped by the exercise of their members' freedom, for, as the poet says, "every home is a lampstand".
Let us now enter one of those houses, led by the Psalmist with a song that even today resounds in both Jewish and Christian wedding liturgies: "Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots round your table. Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!" (Ps 128:1-6).
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
29: Recording
One
particularly serious problem is the quality of water available to the poor.
Every day, unsafe water results in many deaths and the spread of water-related diseases, including those caused by microorganisms and chemical substances.
Dysentery and cholera, linked to inadequate hygiene and water supplies, are a significant cause of suffering and of infant mortality.
Underground water sources in many places are threatened by the pollution produced in certain mining, farming and industrial activities, especially in countries lacking adequate regulation or controls.
It is not only a question of industrial waste.
Detergents and chemical products, commonly used in many places of the world, continue to pour into our rivers, lakes and seas.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
003: Recording
I invite all Christians to a renewed personal encounter
with Jesus Christ.
I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day.
No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since "no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord".
The
Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step
towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with
open arms
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
2007-03-13
Class at Assisi Center + the latest game in San Mao Village
------------------------------------------
Name on the side of a van I saw on a road in Johannesburg in
January:
Trust Nobody Transport Company! Maybe referring to this
song?
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe
& Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia &
Pacific
Frid: South America
Sat: Central &
North America
Jesus,
today, Monday,
please bless the people of Europe
& Russia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On
this 13th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangxi
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 13th of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mali
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun March 12
To encourage more use of the Bible readings and the Pope's writings, below, I've set
up a WhatsApp Group .... asking for readers to publish short
comments/reflections/prayers on the readings/writings, to promote access of this goldmine of good ideas for trying to live a life of goodness. If you have
WhatsApp, please let me know your phone number, and I'll add you to the group: jdwomi@gmail.com
.... and I will say a special little prayer each day for the group. No need
to use your real name ... ok to use another name
Yesterday I watched this 27 min video about praying for healing.
It's really good: Does God
Heal Today?
Letter
from an Indian lady in prison in HK for drug trafficking,
describing how she was
recruited and tricked to bring drugs to HK from India
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Lent 2
Genesis
12-13: God said to a man in
the land of Haran named Abraham,
"Leave your own country and go to a new land I will give you.
I will make you into a great nation."
So Abraham and his family left the land of Haran
and moved to the land of Canaan.
God said to Abraham,
"I will make your descendants as many
as the number of dust particles on the ground
....an uncountable
number."
Even though Abraham and his wife Sarah were old and had no children,
Abraham believed God's promise to give them many descendants.
Dear God, please help me to
trust you like Abraham
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
33: Ring out your joy to the Lord, all good
people,
for praise is fitting for loyal hearts. For the Lord loves justice and right;
he fills the earth with his love. By his word the heavens were made,
he spoke and the universe came into being. They are happy, whose God is the Lord,
he is the source of all true joy. May your love be upon us, O Lord,
since we place all our trust in you.
Lord, we trust in your precious
love
Recording
2
Timothy 1.8-10: I remind you to fan into a flame the gift that
God gave you
when I prayed over you with the laying on of hands. God's gift was not a spirit of timidity, but
the Spirit of power,
and love and self-control. Never be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord.
Like me and with me, put up with hardships for the sake of the Good News.
Jesus, help me put up with hardships for the
sake of the Good News
Recording
Matthew
17.1-8: One day Jesus took his disciples Peter, James
and John
up a high mountain.
On the mountain Jesus' whole appearance changed.
His face shone like the sun. His clothes were as white as snow. The prophets Moses and Elijah appeared
and spoke with him. Peter said to Jesus "Lord, how good it is for
us to be here!" Then a bright cloud covered them with its
shadow.
From the cloud came a voice:
"This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him." The disciples bowed to the ground.
When they got up, they saw only Jesus in his normal appearance.
Jesus, Beloved Son of God,
how good it is to spend time with you in prayer.
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
A
most beautiful song based on today's Gospel - one of my favorite songs:
We
behold
Lyrics:
WE
BEHOLD THE SPLENDOR OF GOD, SHINING ON THE FACE OF JESUS. WE
BEHOLD THE SPLENDOR OF GOD SHINING ON THE FACE OF THE SON.
AND OH HOW HIS BEAUTY
TRANSFORMS US, THE WONDER OF PRESENCE ABIDING. TRANSPARENT HEARTS GIVE
REFLECTION OF TABOR'S LIGHT WITHIN, OF TABOR'S LIGHT WITHIN
WE
BEHOLD THE SPLENDOR OF GOD SHINING ON THE FACE OF JESUS. WE BEHOLD THE SPLENDOR
OF GOD SHINING ON THE FACE OF THE SON.
JESUS, LORD OF GLORY,
JESUS, BELOVED SON. OH HOW GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, HOW GOOD TO SHARE YOUR LIGHT,
HOW GOOD TO SHARE YOUR LIGHT
WE
BEHOLD THE SPLENDOR OF GOD SHINING ON THE FACE OF JESUS. WE BEHOLD THE SPLENDOR
OF GOD SHINING ON THE FACE OF THE SON.
--------------------------------------------------------
I read every word of this good news story
about a taxi driver in Tanzania who returned lost property:
The taxi driver with a big heart
Pope
to visit Colombia Sep 6-11
---------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
007: Recording Given
the rich fruits of the two-year Synod process, this Exhortation will treat, in
different ways, a wide variety of questions. This explains its inevitable
length. Consequently, I do not recommend a rushed reading of the text.
The greatest benefit, for families themselves and for those engaged in the
family apostolate, will come if each part is read patiently and carefully, or if
attention is paid to the parts dealing with their specific needs.
It is likely, for example, that married couples will be more concerned with
Chapters Four and Five, and pastoral ministers with Chapter Six, while everyone
should feel challenged by Chapter Eight. It is my hope that, in reading this
text, all will feel called to love and cherish family life, for "families
are not a problem; they are first and foremost an opportunity".
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
28: Recording
Fresh
drinking water is an issue of primary importance,
since it is indispensable for human life and for supporting terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems. Sources of fresh water are necessary for health care,
agriculture and industry.
Water supplies used to be relatively constant, but now in many places demand
exceeds the sustainable supply, with dramatic consequences in the short and long
term. Large cities dependent on significant supplies of water have
experienced periods of shortage, and at critical moments these have not always
been administered with sufficient oversight and impartiality.
Water poverty especially affects Africa where large sectors of the
population have no access to safe drinking water, or experience droughts which
impede agricultural production. Some countries have areas rich in water while
others endure drastic scarcity
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
002: Recording
The great danger in today's
world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a
complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and
a blunted conscience.
Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor.
God's voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.
This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless.
That
is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God's will for us,
nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen
Christ.
-------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm
HK time tonight - with messages about African inmates in HK prisons
-------------------------------------------
Yesterday
I didn't leave home until 4.45pm ...to go to O.M.I. meeting at Notre Dame. I
stayed home and played a new game called "Catch Up" ....1, 2, then 3
.... then start again 1, 2, 3 ..... where "1" was an email,
"2" was a letter, and "3" was a job from a prison notebook
after recent visits....nothing like variety to add spice to life!
And how good is this?!
BBC
expert interrupted by children goes viral
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe
& Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia &
Pacific
Frid: South America
Sat: Central & Nth
America
Jesus,
today, Sunday,
please bless the people of
Africa
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 12th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangsu
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 12th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Guinea Bissau
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sat March 11
Photo
of my meal with homeless people last Thursday night
Canadian
city eradicates homelessness
"No future in
HK" - Snowden refugees petition Canadian government for resettlement
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Numbers
17: Once again the
people complained against Moses and Aaron.
This time through Moses God told the leaders of the 11 tribes
to bring 11 branches and plant them with Aaron's branch.
The next day Aaron's branch had blossomed and produced fruit. Aaron's branch then became a sign to the people
that they should stop complaining.
Dear
God, please help me not to complain so much
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
78a: Listen, everyone, to my teaching.
I will recount the lessons of our history. The things our parents have told us,
we will not hide from our children,
but will pass them on to the next generation. We want the next generation to know
all that the Lord has done for us in the past. May the next generation in turn
pass on this knowledge to their own children,
so that they too will put their hope in God
and never forget all that God has done for us.
Lord, help us not to forget all
you have done for us
Recording
Romans
6.12-23: Do not let sin control your life. Always
remember which team you play for: God's Grace Guys, not Satan's Sin Side. Playing for SSS is a recipe for death.
Playing
for GGG leads to eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus, please help me remember I'm on your
team
Recording
Luke 12.22-34: Jesus said to his disciples "Do not
worry about food and clothing.
As regards food, think of the birds.
They don't sow or reap, and they have no homes to store things. Yet God
feeds them.
As regards clothing, think how the flowers grow with a beauty greater than
that of Solomon's clothes. God will look after you more than he looks
after the flowers. So, don't set your hearts on food and
clothing.
Don't go in for worry. Just set your hearts on God's kingdom, then food and clothing will not be a problem.
Where your treasure is, that is where your
heart will be too.
Jesus, please help me to put your friendship
as number one in my life
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Speaking to very poor
people, people struggling to get enough food for each day, people living under a
harsh Roman occupation,
Jesus did not say "fight the Romans". He did not say "use
violence to obtain justice".
He did not say steal from the rich. He did not tell people to focus on external
circumstances.
to avoid greed and to increase compassion, to avoid lust and show mercy, to
avoid aggression and practise forgiveness.
Jesus told the poor to concentrate on basic human values, to put internal values
first, to focus on internal circumstances as a way of improving themselves and
their world.
Jesus once made
this incredible statement, spoken to poor and needy people:
- from Good
News for the Poor, pp 4-5
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
006: Recording I
will begin with an opening chapter inspired by the Scriptures, to set a proper
tone. I will then examine the actual situation of families, in order to keep
firmly grounded in reality. I will go on to recall some essential aspects of the
Church's teaching on marriage and the family, thus paving the way for two
central chapters dedicated to love.
I will then highlight some pastoral approaches that can guide us in building sound and fruitful homes in accordance with God's plan, with a full chapter devoted to the raising of children. Finally, I will offer an invitation to mercy and the pastoral discernment of those situations that fall short of what the Lord demands of us, and conclude with a brief discussion of family spirituality.
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
27: Recording Other
indicators of the present situation have to do with the depletion of natural
resources. We all know that it is not possible to sustain the present level
of consumption in developed countries and wealthier sectors of society, where
the habit of wasting and discarding has reached unprecedented levels.
The exploitation of the planet has already exceeded acceptable limits and we still have not solved the problem of poverty.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
001: Recording
THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL fills the hearts and
lives of all who encounter Jesus.
Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness.
With Jesus, joy is constantly born anew.
In
this Exhortation I wish to encourage Christians to embark upon a new chapter of
evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church's
journey in years to come.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago:
2007-03-11 Sunday English classes - before BoB in Zhaoqing & after BoB in Yunfu
------------------------------------------
As I walked to Central from Admiralty yesterday - after
being in the High Court for the case of a man from South Africa - I saw an
interesting site: a bride and groom posing for wedding photos on an
"island" in the middle of busy De Voeux Road in Central....as cars,
buses and trams sped by.
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe
& Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia &
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Central &
North America
Jesus,
today, Saturday,
please bless the people of Central
& North America
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 11th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hunan
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 11th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Eritrea
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Frid March 10
Yesterday at the High Court a kind judge gave a South American man a discount of
one year for his support of my anti-drug campaign. Thank
you Jesus!
Just a coincidence (?): today's menu has the
final article of the Pope's letter on the family ....and
the final article of his letter on evangelization....both of course ending with
a prayer to Mary. This is my first time to finish the family letter, the third
time to finish the evangelization letter. Tomorrow I'll do the same with these
letters as I do with the Bible readings. ...start again from the beginning
....read them again .....so that they keep on sinking into my brain and I keep
on trying to put them into practice. Thank you for
joining me in this daily adventure!
Can
'repair cafes' save broken gadgets and solve growing waste levels?
-------------------------------------------
Fridays
of Lent:
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Numbers
16: Another rebellion
broke out when Korah
and his group of 250 men rebelled against Moses and Aaron.
This group said "You take too much on yourselves.
The whole community is consecrated.
How can you say you are more important than the community?"
The next morning this group and other rebels
were punished by God:
the ground where the Korah group were standing split open
and they
disappeared into the hole.
The other rebels died when a fire came down from heaven
and consumed them
Dear
God, please help people not to rebel against you
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
73-77:
Sometimes when I see how bad people prosper,
I wonder what's the use in trying to be good? But then I realize that
everyone someday has to pay the bill
for any evil they have bought in the world. Sometimes when I see
our world and religion in ruins,
I wonder why has God abandoned us? Then I remember that
God has promised to break the power
of the wicked. He has promised to give strength to good people. So may all people honor
the Lord our God and judge.
May the Lord give us his loving help.
Lord,
you are goodness itself. Please help us to be good
and to trust you always
Recording
Romans
6.3-11:
When we were baptized, two things happened:
1 - We went into Jesus' tomb and joined him in death. We died; 2 - We rose from the dead with Jesus. We came back to life.
This dying and rising means we have died to
sin, and risen to a new life.
We died to an old life, and we came
back to a new life.
We have been re-born, born again.
Jesus, please help me leave my old life
behind. Help me live a new life with you
Recording
Luke
12.16-21: Jesus told the people this story: There was a
rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself
"What am I to do? I don't have enough room to store my
crops". Then he said to himself "This is what I will do: I will pull down my
barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain in them, and I will
say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many
years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, and have a good time". But God said to him "Fool! This very
night your earthly life will come to an end. And all your possessions, who
will get them?"
So it is when people store up treasure for themselves, instead of making themselves rich in the sight of God.
Jesus, please help me to be satisfied with
what I have, and not to be greedy
Recording
Reflection
on the above Bible readings:
The
Hong Kong government's fiscal reserves are HK$935 (US$120). Many religious (?)
organizations also have inordinate reserves. Meanwhile 20,000 children die of
hunger each day in the world
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
325b: Recording Prayer
to the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we
contemplate the splendour of true love; to you we turn with trust. Holy
Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion
and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; may all who have been hurt or scandalized find ready comfort and healing.
Holy Family of Nazareth, make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God's plan.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Graciously hear our prayer. Amen.
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
26b: Recording
Worldwide there is minimal access to clean
and renewable energy.
There is still a need to develop adequate storage technologies. Some countries have made considerable progress, although it is far from constituting a significant proportion.
Investments have also been made in means of production and transportation which consume less energy and require fewer raw materials, as well as in methods of construction and renovating buildings which improve their energy efficiency. But these good practices are still far from widespread
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
288g: Recording
(Prayer to Mary:) Star of the new evangelization, help us to bear
radiant witness to communion, service, ardent and generous faith, justice and
love of the poor, that the joy of the Gospel may reach to the ends of the earth,
illuminating even the fringes of our world. Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God's little ones, pray for us. Amen. Alleluia!
-------------------------------------
Last night Paul (St Egidio), Tony
(Sunday night volunteer) and I again had a meal with the homeless men who sleep
at McDonald's (joined by a few other homeless men). In all we were 11.
This time we upgraded ourselves from McDonald's to a nearby canteen!
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe
& Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia &
Pacific
Frid: South
America Sat:
Central & North America
Jesus,
today, Friday,
please bless the people of South
America
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 10th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hubei
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 10th of the month, Jesus please bless
the people of Guinea
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thur March 9
Judge Barnes' February 28 summary in the High Court is Here.
The summary has a detailed report on my anti-drug campaign. God bless Judge
Barnes!
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Numbers
13-14a: Moses sent some men to reconnoiter the land
of
Dear
God, please give me more courage to face the trials of life,
and don't let me ever discourage other people
My
recording of this reading: 01
02
Psalm
72: O Lord, please bless the king,
that he might serve your people with justice. May the mountains bring forth peace for the
people
and the hills, justice. The kings of Sheba and Seba bring him gifts.
All nations will serve him. He will save the poor when they cry for help
and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor. May every tribe be blessed in him.
May every nation bless his name.
May all the nations know and
love you, Lord
Recording
Romans
5.12-21:
Through one man, Adam, the virus of sin
entered the world,
and sin infected everyone with death. Through one man, Jesus, the divine anti-virus
of grace entered the world, and brought the gift of eternal life to
everyone who allows it to be installed in their heart. The divine anti-virus of grace is more
powerful than any sin virus.
Jesus, please download and install in my heart
your anti-virus program of grace
Recording
Luke
11.37-54: Jesus said to the religious leaders "You
worry so much about cleaning dirty dishes, but don't care about
having a dirty heart full of extortion and wickedness. At meetings and in the market, you like being
treated as people of importance. But in fact you are like unmarked tombs
that people walk on without knowing it. You expect ordinary people to observe
unreasonable laws, while you excuse yourselves from such laws. You don't care about obtaining real wisdom,
and you prevent others from obtaining wisdom". The leaders were stung by Jesus'
words, and they intensified their efforts to trap him in his speech.
Jesus, help religious leaders be
sincere people
Recording
Reflection
on the above Bible readings:
The
world has always had bad leaders .... as in today's Gospel. God, please give the
world more leaders like Caleb and Joshua (first reading) ... good people with
courage
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
325: Recording The
teaching of the Master (cf. Mt 22:30) and Saint Paul (cf. 1 Cor 7:29-31) on
marriage is set - and not by chance - in the context of the ultimate and
definitive dimension of our human existence.
We urgently need to rediscover the richness of this teaching.
By heeding it, married couples will come to see the deeper meaning of their journey through life.
As this Exhortation has often noted, no family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love.
This is a never-ending vocation born of the full communion of the Trinity, the profound unity between Christ and his Church, the loving community which is the Holy Family of Nazareth, and the pure fraternity existing among the saints of heaven.
Our contemplation of the fulfilment which we have yet to attain also allows us to see in proper perspective the historical journey which we make as families, and in this way to stop demanding of our interpersonal relationships a perfection, a purity of intentions and a consistency which we will only encounter in the Kingdom to come.
It also keeps us from judging harshly those who live in situations of frailty.
All of us are called to keep striving towards something greater than ourselves .... and our families, and every family must feel this constant impulse.
Let us make this journey as families, let us keep walking together.
What we have been promised is greater than we can imagine.
May we never lose heart because of our limitations, or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us.
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
26a: Recording Many
of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem
mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms,
simply making efforts to reduce some of the negative impacts of climate change.
However, many of these symptoms indicate that such effects will continue to worsen if we continue with current models of production and consumption.
There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced, for example, substituting for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable energy
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
288f: Recording
Virgin of listening
and contemplation,Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast, pray for
the Church, whose pure icon you are, that she may never be closed in on herself
or lose her passion for establishing God's kingdom.
-------------------------------------
A few weeks ago on my previous visit to Lo Wu women's
prison, when I exited the main entrance and was waiting for a mini-bus, a
couple of young men in a car called out to me ....they had been inmates at Hei
Ling Chau drug treatment centre and recognized me ....and gave me a lift to
Seung Shui MTR (metro) station. Yesterday the same thing happened. But this time
it was a friendly lawyer ....in a Porsche
sports car! ....and he gave me a ride to University Station.
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe
& Russia
Tues: South Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia &
Pacific
Frid: South
America Sat:
Central & North America
Jesus,
today, Thursday,
please bless the people of
South East Asia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this
9th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of 9th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Henan
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 9th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Central African Republic
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
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Wed March 8 Int'l Women's Day (v.i.p. in China and HK)
The militant history of International Women's Day
The fire which this little website helped
to light in mid-2013 continues to burn brightly!
Five Tanzanian drug kingpins nabbed in 3 weeks
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
Arriving as the Headteacher of a new school after local reorganisation, I was asked by a member of staff "What do we call you?" My answer was simple. "I have a first name, so do you. That's what we call each other".
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Numbers
12:
Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron,
started complaining
against Moses.
So God called Moses, Aaron and Miriam
to the Sacred Tent.
God said: "Moses is at home in my house
and I speak with him face to face.
You were wrong to speak against my servant Moses".
When God finished speaking
Miriam had become a leper.
Moses pleaded with God for Miriam.
Miriam was exiled from the camp for seven days
and then the leprosy left her.
Dear
God, please help me not to complain so much about other people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
71: In you, O Lord, I take refuge.
Please hear me and help me. Be a rock where I can take refuge.
Rescue me from people who want to hurt me. It is you, O Lord, who are my hope.
In you I have trusted since I was young. From my mother's womb you have been my help.
My hope has always been in you. Now that I am old, please do not forget me.
Now that my strength fails, do not abandon me. Now that I am old and grey-headed,
may I continue to trust in you and proclaim your help. To you I will sing with the harp.
All day long my tongue will tell of your goodness to me.
Lord, may all elderly people
put their trust and hope in you
Romans
5.1-5: By faith and through Jesus we can live in the
friendship of God. We look forward to heaven and an end to all
suffering. In the meantime our suffering teaches us
patience.
Patience produces perseverance. Perseverance produces hope. This hope is not imaginary. It's real, since
the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has
been given to us.
Jesus, through your Holy Spirit, please give
me more hope
Luke
11.27-32:
While Jesus was speaking, a woman in the
crowd called out
"Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you".
Jesus replied "Even more blessed are
those who hear the word of God and put it into practice!" Jesus also said "On Judgement day, the
Queen of the South will rise up with the people of this generation and
condemn them, because she came from a distant country to hear the wisdom
of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here".
Jesus, greater than Solomon, please help me
put your teaching into practice
Reflection
on the above readings:
Jesus' wisdom is greater than that of Solomon or anyone else who ever walked
this earth
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
324: Recording Led
by the Spirit, the family circle is not only open to life by generating it
within itself, but also by going forth and spreading life by caring for
others and seeking their happiness.
This openness finds particular expression in hospitality, which the word of God eloquently encourages: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Heb 13:2).
When a family is welcoming and reaches out to others, especially the poor and the neglected, it is "a symbol, witness and participant in the Church's motherhood".
Social love, as a reflection of the Trinity, is what truly unifies the spiritual meaning of the family and its mission to others, for it makes present the kerygma in all its communal imperatives.
The family lives its spirituality precisely by being at one and the same time a domestic church and a vital cell for transforming the world.
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
25b: Recording Changes
in climate, to which animals and plants cannot adapt, lead them to migrate; this
in turn affects the livelihood of the poor, who are then forced to leave their
homes, with great
uncertainty for their future and that of their children.
There has been a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation. They are not recognized by international conventions as refugees; they bear the loss of the lives they have left behind, without enjoying any legal protection whatsoever.
Sadly, there is widespread indifference to such suffering, which is even now taking place throughout our world.
Our lack of response to these tragedies involving our brothers and sisters, points to the loss of that sense of responsibility for our fellow men and women upon which all civil society is founded.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
288e: Recording
To Mary we pray: Obtain
for us now a new ardour born of the resurrection, that
we may bring to all the Gospel of life which triumphs over death. Give us a holy
courage to seek new paths, that the gift of unfading
beauty may reach every man and woman.
-------------------------------------
Yesterday I spent seven hours at Tai Lam Women's Centre
....where a number of inmates had a special request: please tell us the prison
number of Donald Tsang, so we can write to him! (Donald being HK's former Chief
Executive, now residing at Stanley Prison)
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe &
Russia Tues:
South Asia
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia &
Pacific
Frid: South America
Sat: Central &
North America
Jesus,
today, Wednesday,
please bless the people of East Asia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 8th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Heilongjiang
And
praying for one of
the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 8th of the month, Jesus please
bless the people of Sierra Leone
And
praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
---------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
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Please also join me in praying for the very many deformed and handicapped people from China who are on the streets of HK as beggars...as well as deformed people in China itself ...like Hung Chun Cai
My Africa trips:
2015 - Tanzania, Malawi
2016 - Kenya, Uganda
--------------------
Video: What "gay marriage" did to Massachusetts
--------------------------------------------
Pope's surprise visit to drug treatment centre
Pope is practising what he preaches: "get out and mix with the poor"
HK
readers might like to join me in praying each day for one group of HK
prison inmates: Sun:
Lo Wu; Mon: C.I.C., Siu Lam, Tai Lam; Tue: Stanley
Wed: Hei Ling Chau Thu: Lantau
Fri: Lai Chi Kok
Sat: Hospitals, Pik Uk & other centres
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This website was launched in construction
mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ
the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
Map and Flag Counter began Feb 11, 2012. Previous visits 4,932.
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Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and bloggers!
Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile (852) 6709 5674
China
mobile 13030213703 - out of
action for the time being
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